Georgia enacts a law that purports to shield businesses and health care providers from civil liability for coronavirus-related injury and wrongful death suits
Under the Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act signed into law August 5, 2020, businesses and health care providers can't be held liable for injuries or deaths related to coronavirus treatment, exposure, or infection unless it can be established that a defendant committed gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The virus has killed more than 4,000 people in the state as of August 6, according to official figures.
The new law includes a provision stating that if a business owner posts a COVID-19 warning sign outside the premises that essentially acts as a liability waiver for virus injuries, then a plaintiff must overcome a rebuttable presumption that he or she assumed the risk of entering the premises. This additional legal hurdle is not required in cases of gross negligence, according to the law.
So what would the waiver say? Read the pdf of the bill for context, but here's the provision:
